Dennis Zocco - University of San Diego

Professor: Dennis Zocco

Department: TBD

College: University of San Diego

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: FINA407
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

You will never experience a more boring class that if you even leave for water will severely drop your grade. You'll quickly become an expert at doodling to pass the time, but at least their is no final only mc quizzes with the lowest one dropped. Group project makes up most of the rest of the grade. Its doable, you just aren't gonna be thrilled.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: FINA407
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

The class has potential and isn't that hard to get a "decent" grade if you go to class (mandatory attendance). He is very strict on attendance and you aren't allowed to use any technology or even use the restroom during class without your grade being docked. The content is somewhat interesting but his lectures are pretty dry.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: FINA402
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I see that "things never change" since I earned my '88 MBA there. Back then too, Dennis Zocco was a pompous/arrogant/condescending megalomaniac who taught an interesting course but made it worthless. Learned zero. Do still remember however how he, at age 40+ back then, was dating a undergrad teenager (LOL). He still gets no respect, it seems.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: FINA407
• Grade Received: Not sure yet
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I'm not sure if he's the worst professor I've had at USD, but he is definitely at the top of the list. He's arrogant and unreasonable and tells students they're wrong when they said just about the same thing he said. His quizzes (really tests) are extremely difficult and test random fact memorization and not just the stuff that matters. Avoid him!

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: FINA407
• Grade Received: INC
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Boring class. Slow talking and walking guy. Unclear expectation. He just talks about whatever numbers on excel. We sit in his class and try to hide our yawning.

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: FINA407
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Prof. Zocco is one of the most amazing professors I had in USD. The class consists of 5 phases, a quiz for each phase. NO FINAL. You will learn about negotiating and how a business goes from an idea to being a billion dollar company. Take it and you won't regret it. Oh, did I mention that he drops the quiz with the lowest score?

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: FINA403
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Terrible teacher, terrible class. He does nothing but repeat what is on the power point. Tests are extremely difficult and the only component of the final grade. If you are looking for a Finance elective, do NOT take this class.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: FINA402
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

If you are interested in Finance, Zocco's Investments class is fantastic. Great introduction to investing. The book is a great tool as well, both the textbook and Bogle's "Common Sense Investing." Course is very applicable, project was to write our own investment strategy for the next 5 years. Take Zocco!! Useful for the real world.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: FIN402
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

On the fence with this guy. So far, I feel like I have not learned much in this investments, but then again we have no homework either. I feel like he just likes to hear himself speak and takes forever to get his point across. If you really want to learn finance, take a different teacher, but if you just want to get by Zocco is the man for you.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: FINA402
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Professor Zocco is by far one of the best professors at USD. His work may be intense, but you learn so much from him about the investment world. No homework, only a paper and a project. I had no experience in investing, but I succeeded in this class with an A. I also did not need a private tutor.. just go to his class and office hours!

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: FINANCE
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I took Dr. Zocco for both Investments and New Venture Finance in the same semester and while the material is challenging and the workload is heavy at times, he's by far one of the fairest and most lenient teachers ive had in the business school. The payoff for an above average effort in his class is huge. Really nice guy too.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ACCOUNTING
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

he's fair and willing to work with you. good class!

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: BUS112
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: N/A
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Professor Zocco is a good instructor, but I sought assistance from a private tutor in order to get a competitive advantage. (You'll encounter lots of new topics like security valuation that require time and effort to learn.)